Shadow line shake guide



Sept. 1l, 1956 M. J. OLSON SHADOW LINE SHAKE GUIDE Filed OCC. 24, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 11, 1956 M J, OLSQN 2,762,130

SHADOW LINE SHARE GUIDE Filed Oct. 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inf/en for'iinited States Patent @f SHADW LINE SHAKE GUIDE Milton J. Olson, Omaha,Nebr.

Application ctober 24, 1952, Serial No. 316,707

Claims. (Cl. 33-188) My invention relates to a device for properlypositioning shingles or shakes on any surface of a building, house, orother structure.

One of the more dicult yproblems in the construction of various types ofhouses and buildings is the proper positioning of the shingles or shakeson the surfaces thereof. The improper positioning of the shingles orshakes will eventually lead to a disintegration of the surface as a unitand results in leaking, cracking, and improper moisture and weatherresistant conditions.

One of the primary problems, therefore, in the building trades is theproper positioning of shingles or shakes on surfaces, and it has been asubject of continual experimentation leading to the production ofvarious gauges and devices to aid persons skilled in the trade inspeeding up the application of shingles or shakes on a surface.

Therefore, a primary object of my invention is a new and improvedgauging device to materially assist persons in the trade in the properspacing and speedy application of shingles or shakes on a surface.

Another object is a new and improved gauge or level to properly positionshingles or shakes on a surface where the shingles are intended to coveran insulating surface.

Another object is a new and improved shingle or shake guide to speed upthe proper positioning of a layer of insulating units and a coveringlayer of shingles or shakes.

Another object of my invention is a guide or gauge for shingles orshakes that can be rapidly moved from one position to another so as toexpedite materially the shingle laying process.

Another object of my invention is a shake or shingle gauge designed tospeed up the application of shingles or shakes and to maintain true andlevel lines at the bottom edge of each course of shingles or shakes witha minimum of measuring and checking.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specificationand drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of my new and improved shake guide;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the guide in position during the shake layingprocess;

Figure 3 is a sectional View along line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of one end of the shake guide; and

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5--5 of Figure 4.

In Figure l my shake guide consists of a base plate which has a seriesof holes or perforations 12 that are spaced from one anotherlongitudinally and positioned approximately equidistant between thelongitudinal edges of the base. A small portion of the lower end 14 ofthe base plate is turned over, as shown in Figure 5, so that a smoothlower edge is presented to the user. The upper edge i6 is bent over toform a 90 angle with the 2,762,130 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 which isapproximately one quarter of an inch high. It

should be noted in Figure l that the bracket extends the full length ofthe base plate with the exception of approximately a one inch clearanceat either end and extends out from the face of the base plate about oneinch.

The base plate is provided at either end with a slot 24 which extendsapproximately one half inch inwardly toward the bracket V18, the slotbeing positioned adjacent the upper edge of the base plate, as shown inFigure 4.

The use and operation of my device are as follows:

After the first course of shingles or shakes has been applied, as at 26in Figure 3, to any conventional surface W, the user measures up fromthe bottom of the course approximately twelve and three-eighths inchesand positions a small shingle nail at A as in Figure 2. It will be notedin Figure 3 that the row of shingles 26 has been positioned over aninner layer of insulation such as an Insulite hacker strip 23 and thenail A is driven into the row of shingles 26 to within one-sixteenth ofan inch of the face of the shingle. As the lower edge of the outer rowof shingles 26 is positioned to extend approximately three-quarters ofan inch below the inner layer of insulation positioned thereunder, theshingle nail at A will be approximately twelve inches from the weathercourse.

With the nail positioned at A, the gauge is slipped around the nail withthe slot 24 positioned around the shank of the nail. 'Ihen the gauge islevelled by the use of a conventional carpenters level placed along theupper edge 16. While holding the gauge in this level position, anothernail is driven through one of the perforations, as at B in Figure l, atthe end opposite the nail at A. With the gauge removably attached to therow of shingles or shakes 26 in this position, an inner layer ofinsulating or backer material 349 is positioned above the gauge usingthe edge 16 as a guide. When this hacker material has been properlyinstalled, the next row of shakesor shingles 32 is nailed into positionusing the bracket 18 as a guide, as shown in Figure 3.

Once the shingling operation has been completed on the outer row ofshingles 32, the nail driven through the perforation 12 at B is pulledout and the gauge is moved to the left in Figure 2 so that the slot 24passes out of association with the nail A. lf the gauge should becomestuck under the nail at A, it can easily be released by a light tappingon the side of the bracket 1S with a nail hammer. This operation is thenrepeated with the gauge placed in the next leftward or rightwardposition.

I have also found it expeditious to prenail the face nails at the bottomof the shingles or shakes approximately an inch and a half up from thebottom edge with the point of the nail not extending through the backside of the shingle. Also, the top of each of the shingles or shakes isnailed at 34 as necessary to hold the shingles properly in place and topresent la at surface for the guide when the next course of shingles isbeing laid with the guide positioned as shown in dotted lines at 36 inFigure 3.

The above description is concerned with a twelve inch course, but if itis desired to use -a different course, the user should add to thedimension of the weather course approximately three-eighths of an inchfor the positioning of the initial nail at A.

I While I have described the gauge in use with a backer strip of aninsulating material and a course of conventional shingles or shakes,itshould be understood that the device can be used in any set-up orunder any conditions where it is desired to position properly two layersof material, regardless of whether or not one is a backer insulatingsheet. It should also be understood that the various dimensions givenare only approximations and that they can easily be altered withoutdeparting from the essential structure of the invention.

I have found that if the gauge is made in approximately four-footlengths it can be easily manipulated and handled by the operator.However, threeand five-foot lengths are also easily handled andareexpeditious in use. The height of the gauge is approximately four inchesand can be standardized regardless of the length.

While I have shown and described one form of my invention, it should beunderstood that the particular showing is only illustrative ordiagrammatic and should not be interpreted to restrict or confine myinvention except by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for positioning cover units in courses on a flat surface,each course consisting of an inner and an outer layer of covering units,and overlapping the course below it, each unit in a course abutting itsadjacent units, the positioning device comprising an elongated bodymember, means on said body member adapted to removably position thedevice on the surface, said body member having an upper abutting edge ofsubstantial Width perpendicular to the body member adapted to guide andposition in abutting relationship an inner layer of covering units, andan outstanding, elongated abutment positioned on the body member belowthe said upper abutting edge and adapted to guide in abuttingrelationship and to position an outer layer of covering units.

2. A device for positioning cover units in courses on aat surface, eachcourse consisting of an inner and an outer layer of cover units andoverlapping the course below it, each unit in a course abutting itsadjacent units, the positioning device comprising an elongated 4bodymember with a rectangular configuration, said body member having a slotat either 'end and a plurality of aper- `used to position the device,said body member having an upper abutting edge of substantial widthperpendicular to the body member adapted to engage and position theinner layer of cover units kwhile they are being secured in position, anoutstanding, elongated abutment positioned on the body member below theupper edge at a predetermined dist-ance and adapted to engage andposition the outer layer of cover units so that they will extend belowthe inner layer the predetermined distance While they areY being securedin position, said abutment having an outerV edge turned up toward theupper edge of the body member and adapted to confine the lower edge ofthe outer cover units on the device while they are being secured inposition.

4. In a shingle gauge, the combination of an elongated body member,meansr on said body member adapted to I removably position the gauge ona shingle receiving surface, said body member having an upper abuttingedge of substantial width perpendicular to the body member adapted tolguide and position an inner layer of shinglelike units, and anoutstanding, elongated abutment posi-Y tioned on the body member belowthe said upper abutting edge a predetermined distance and adapted toguide and position in abutting relationship an outer layer ofshingle-like units.

5. A device for positioning cover units in courses on a ilat surface,each course consisting of an inner and an tures spaced longitudinallytherealong for the reception of nails used to position the device, saidbody member having an upper abutting edge of substantial widthperpendicular to the body member adapted to engage and position theinner layer of cover unitswhile they are being secured in position, anoutstanding elongated abutment positioned on the body member below theupper abutting edge at a predetermined distance therefrom and adapted toengage and position the outer layer of cover units so that they willextend below the inner layerV of cover units the predetermined distancewhile they are being secured in position.

3. A device for positioning cover units in courses on a at surface, eachcourse consisting of an inner and an outer layer of cover units andoverlapping the course below it, each unit in a course abutting itsadjacent units, the positioning device comprising a body member, meanson said body member adapted to removably position the device on thesurface, said body member having an upper abutting edge of substantialwidth perpendicular to the body member adapted to guide in abuttingrelationship and to position the inner layer of cover units, anoutstanding, elongatedwabutment positioned on the body member below thesaid upper abutting edge and adapted to guide and position in abuttingrelationship the outer layer of covering units, said abutment extendinga substantial distance outwardly beyond the upper abutting edge andhaving its outer edge turned up toward the upper abutting edge of thebody member and :adapted to conne the lower edge of the outer coverunits on the device while they are being nailed in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,521,459 McCoy Dec. 30, 1924 1,890,928 Black Dec. 13, 1932 2,409,921Wulff Oct. 22, 1946

